| Short little book that goes along with the “Goldstone Wood” series. It is officially 5.5 in the set. Great Christian fantasy, this one had some illustrations and I think would be good for younger ages as well. I give it five stars. Loved it. No swearing or sexual content, good for ages 12 and up. I highly recommend the whole series! Great allegory. |
I believe this is book five in the “Goldstone Wood” series. You know those book series that get duller, or stranger, or boring as they go on? This isn’t one of those! I loved book one “Heartless” and have continued on in the series. After reading book two, “Veiled Rose”, I decided I liked it even better. Then came “Moonblood” and “Starflower” and after reading each one I thought “This one is the best so far!” Now, book five, “Dragonwitch” so at the risk of repeating myself, this is the best one yet. I haven’t read a series that captured me like these since Ted Dekker’s “Black, Red, and White” trilogy. I think these are on the same plane as C.S. Lewis and a lighter version on Tolkien. These stories can be stand alone, but I encourage you to read them in order. That would be the best experience. You get all the twists and turns, some expected and others so very unexpected. This one had me bawling in so many places. Romance, dragons, magic, demons, witches, and normal mortals who accomplish the impossible. No swearing or sexual content, there is fighting and violence. I can recommend for fantasy lovers and Christians alike, teen and up. I give it 5+ stars and wish I could give more. Well done Miss Stengl!
I just can’t say enough about this series! Anne Elisabeth Stengl is now on my top five favorite authors list. Each book in this series is a stand alone book, telling a full story with a clear beginning and an end. However, each one weaves the story in more detail so as to explain what you have read before and tie the whole “Goldstone” world together. Great epic fantasy! Villains are made and others are thrust into the unlikely role of hero. I can’t seem to put the books down. Characters are well rounded. There is a great mix of humor, and heartache. I give this story 5+ stars. They would earn many more if available. No swearing or sexual content, though fighting and violence, including dragon destruction. I can recommend for ages 14 and up. Great Christian allegory!
Wow, I loved this book! I thought book one was good (Heartless), but “Veiled Rose” is even better. The backstory is being told from some of the characters in book one. Still great fantasy, dragons, demons, princes and princesses, and good versus evil. Great writing, super well developed characters, and an epic story. Anne Elisabeth Stengl is easily one of my favorite fantasy authors. I give it five stars. Violence, no sexual content or swearing, some scary images so teens and up would be my recommendation. Great Christian Allegory!
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I was given a copy of “The King’s Scrolls” in exchange for an honest review. when I agreed to read this book I didn’t realize that it was a sequel. So I purchased book number one “Resistance” and fell in love with it. I couldn’t wait to read this one and it did not disappoint. This series is a wonderful fantasy that also happens to be Christian. The story is full of your usual fantasy aspects as well as the good versus evil theme. This story has included some dragons and dragon fights and we meet some new characters. The characters are very fleshed out and feel like someone you’ve known forever. I hated to see this one end and am looking forward to book three. There is no sexual content or swearing, there is fighting. I give it five stars. I loved it! I can recommend for teens and up. (on a side note, though it is Christian fiction it is not “preachy”)
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“Resistance” is a great Christian fantasy novel. The main characters are two young adults trapped in a city that demands they worship their emperor and two moon gods, a young mixed breed slave, and an older father figure. As believers of the True God, they have to find a way to either stay hidden or make a stand. I love this book. I will go right into book two to find out what happens next. The writing style is wonderful, the characters are loveable and you feel like you have known them your whole life. It is a great work of fantasy with new peoples and cultures. It has all the swords, intrigue, and good versus evil that you expect from a fantasy novel. No swearing or sexual content, so I can recommend for teens and up. I give this book 5 stars.
My Review:
I was given a copy of this book by Litfuse Publicity Group in exchange for an honest review. This book was a refreshing look at God through the life of Jesus. Though I didn’t agree 100% with all of his views, Bradley Jersak helps us to see God how He really is. We need a better understanding of this as His Church, His Body and this book helps us to get there. Some of the hard questions about “why?” are answered in this book in a clear way, some I found unanswered (like the flood, or some other hard Old Testament themes), however I agree totally with the fact that God is Love, and He loved people. He is good and He wants good for people. Good read, I give the book four stars. I really liked it. It may be hard to understand for young teens so I can recommend for ages 16 and up.
About the book:
A More Christlike God (April 2015)
What is God like? A punishing judge? A doting grandfather? A deadbeat dad? A vengeful warrior?
Believers and atheists alike typically carry and finally reject the toxic images of God in their own hearts and minds. Even the Christian gospel has repeatedly lapsed into a vision of God where the wrathful King must be appeased by his victim Son. How do such good cop/bad cop distortions of the divine arise and come to dominate churches and cultures?
Whether our notions of ‘god’ are personal projections or inherited traditions, author and theologian Brad Jersak proposes a radical reassessment, arguing for A More Christlike God: a More Beautiful Gospel. If Christ is “the image of the invisible God, the radiance of God’s glory and exact representation of God’s likeness,” what if we conceived of God as completely Christlike—the perfect Incarnation of self-giving, radically forgiving, co-suffering love? What if God has always been and forever will be cruciform (cross-shaped) in his character and actions?
A More Christlike God suggests that such a God would be very good news indeed—a God who Jesus “unwrathed” from dead religion, a Love that is always toward us, and a Grace that pours into this suffering world through willing, human partners.
Brad Jersak (PhD)
is an author and teacher based in Abbotsford, BC. He is on faculty at Westminster Theological Centre (Cheltenham, UK), where he teaches New Testament and Patristics. He also serves as adjunct faculty with St Stephen’s University (St. Stephen, NB). He is also the senior editor of CWR (Christianity Without the Religion) Magazine, based in Pasadena, CA.